Hail Fell 2-3 Miles East Of Lake Arthur, NM on Wednesday, Oct 21, 2015. This Hail Fell 2-3 Miles East Of Lake Arthur, NM on Wednesday, Oct 21, 2015. A nasty Severe Thunderstorm rolled through the Artesia, Cottonwood, and Lake Arthur areas on the evening of Wednesday, October 21, 2015. Reports from the public indicated that hail was pea to quarter size in Artesia, as large as Tennis Balls in the Cottonwood area near Mill and Bolton Roads. Ping pong to golf ball size hail was reported in south Carlsbad. Wind damage was also noted in the Cottonwood area north of Artesia. 24-hour rainfall reports by the public in the Cottonwood and Lake Arthur areas ranged in the 2"-6" neighborhood.